The Art of Boxing, Preface

After the many marks of encouragement bestowed on me by a generous publick, I thought that I could not better evince my gratitude for such favours, than by disseminating to as wide an extent, and at as cheap a rate as possible, the knowledge of an Art, which though not perhaps the most elegant, is certainly the most useful species of defence. To render it not totally devoid of elegance has, however, been my present aim, and the ideas of coarseness and vulgarity which are naturally attached to the science of pugilism, will, I trust, in a great measure, be done away, by a candid perusal of the following pages. Boxing is a national mode of combat, and is as peculiar to the inhabitants of this country as Fencing to the French; [ . . . ] I flatter myself that I have deprived Boxing of any appearance of brutality to the learner, and reduced it into so regular a system, as to render it equal to fencing, in point of neatness, activity, and grace.

The Science of Pugilism may, therefore, with great propriety, be acquired, even tho’ the scholar should feel actuated by no desire of engaging in a contest, or defending himself from an insult. Those who are unwilling to risque any derangement of features in a real boxing match, may, at least, venture to practise the Art from sportiveness; and sparring is productive of health and spirits, as it is both an exercise and an amusement.

The two great objects of my present publication have been to explain with perspicuity, the Science of Pugilism, and to lay before my readers, a fair statement of facts, relative to the battle which is shortly about to take place between Mr. Humphreys and myself. In the first, it has been my endeavour to offer no precepts which will not be brought to bear in practice, and found useful in fighting; and, in the second, I trust, I have not displayed any thing like untruth of illiberality: and it will give me peculiar satisfaction and pleasure to understand that I have attained my first object, by having taught any man an easy regular System of so useful an Art as that of Boxing; and that I have proved successful in my second, by having removed any prejudices which, from the mistatement of others, might have been unfavourable to my character.